Automatic cotton press and feeder.



F. B. GUMPSTON.

AUTOMATIG COTTON PRESS AND FEEDER. APPLIOATION FILED APR.22, 1907. RENEWED JUNE 9, 1908. 91 7,754, Patented Apr. 13, 1909.

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F. B. GUMPSTQN. AUTOMATIO COTTON PRESS AND FEEDER.

APPLICATION FILED APH.22, 1907. RENEWED JUNE 9, 1908.

917,754. Patented Apr. 13, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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F. B. GUMPSTON.

AUTOMATIC COTTON PRESS AND EEEEEE.

APPLICATION FILED APE.22, 1907. RENEWED JUNE 9, 1908.

Patented Apr. 13, 1909 3SHEETS-SHEET 3.

. M mmwboz div 21% UNITE s'rA Es FREDERICK BERNARD eUMPs'r0N, .oF BLOOMING GROVE, TEXAS.

v serous-r10 oo'r'ron Specification 0! Letters Patent.

PATENT onrron.

PRESS Am) manna.

Patented April 13, 1909.

Application filed April 22, 1907, Serial No. 889,620. Renewed June 9, 1908. Serial No. 437,553.

' loosely To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK BERNARD CUMPsroN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Blooming Grove, in the county of Navarro and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Au tomatic Cotton Presses and Feeders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in cotton presses and more particularly to that type of cotton pressers designed to be actuated by fluid ressure.

The object of t e present invention is the provision in a ress of this character of improved means or feeding the cotton to the press and of improved mechanism operable upon the filling of the press box for causin the downward movementof the plunger an automatic means for effecting the reversal of the plunger.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description hereinter when read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof wherein a referable embodiment of my in.- vention is s own and wherein like characters of reference refer to similar parts in the several views.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved cotton press. Fig, 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is an en arged front elevation, with parts broken away. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the feeding mechanism, and Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, A designates a condenser which may be of any suitable form or construction.

B designates the press frame, which is ositioned at one side of the condenser an is connected therewith by suitable girders and in the lower portion of which is supported a press box B, which may be of any suitable construction.

C designates a cotton chute which extends from the condenser into proximity to the top of the press box B and is adapted to convey the cotton from the condenser thereto.

D D designate a air of rocking arms, the lower ends of whic are secured to a rock shaft D journaled in suitable bearings mounted on the condenser, and the u per ends of which reject a sli ht distance a ove the sides. of tfie cotton 0 ute on each side thereof, when the arms are in their upright position.

* E designates a bar which is journaled D an from which extend a lurality of fingers E, the free ends of whic normally rest on the bottom of the cotton chute. Extending rearwardly from the barE is a finger e with which is desi ed to cooperate a spring pressed catch F wl ii ch is fulcrumed intermediate its end on the back of one of the rocking vided with an overhanging head f, which is at times adapted to engage the finger e heretofore referred to. Secured to the condenser is a stop or projectionff' which is designed to engage the rear end 0 the catch F when the rocking bars are moved to their upright positions to release said catch from engagement from the finger e and consequently permit the fingers E to fall to the bottom of the chute. The forward movement of the catch F is limited by a stop of any suitable character sogured to the rear edge of one of the rocking are.

A reciprocatory movement is imparted to the rocking arms D and consequently to the feeding fingers E by means of a pitman G which extends from one of said arms to an idler wheel G secured to a shaft G j ournaled in suitable bearings mounted on the press frame. Then a rotary movement is imarted to the idler G, in the manner to be ereinafter set forth, it will be apparent that the rocking arms D will be reciprocated and that during the forward movement of said arms the fingers E will cause cotton tobe fed from the cotton chute into the press box. During the forward movement of said arms, however, the catch F will have assumed such a position that the overhanging head f thereof will have engaged the finger e on the bar.

arms the feeding fingers E will be lifted bodily from the cotton chute until the arms reach the limit of their rearward movement when. the stop f on the condenser will engage the lower end of the catch and release the same thus permitting the feeding fingers E to again drop to the bottom of the chute.

H designates a shaft which is journaled in suitable bearings mounted in the press frame from any suitab e source of power and to the out of engagement with the idler G, the shaft arms D. The spring pressed catch F is proand to one end of which is secured a pulley- H which is ada ted to be constantly driven v V in the upper: ends of the rocking arms E so that during the return movement of the I other end of which is secureda friction wheel H, which is designed to be moved int0 an(l.=l1(

H being movably secured to the press frame 1 to permit such movement of the friction wheel H Pivotally secured to one of the bearings supporting the shaft H is a link I which is pivotally secured at its free end to one end of a link I, the other end of which link is pivotally secured in any suitable mannor to a fixed portion of the press frame. The links I and I are of such a length that when they are in their alined position the friction wheel H will be maintained in engagement with the idler G to cause the same to rotate with the shaft H but when permitted to buckle they will move the fric tion wheel 11 a sufficient extent to Withdraw the same from driving contact with the idler l. Passing loosely through the link I is a rod J and interposed between the lower end of said rod and the under side of the link I is a coil spring J. The lower end of the rod J is secured to a lever J one end of which is fulcrumed to a fixed part of the press frame and the other end of which is designed to overlie the press plunger to be hereinafter described, so that when said plunger is elevated it will contact with said lever thereby raising the rod J and through the medium of the spring J bringing the links I and I into alinement and causing the friction wheel H to be moved into engagement with the idler G. I

K designates the plunger of. the press which has secured to one edge thereof an upwardly extending plate K, which is adapted to slide across the discharge end of the cotton chute and to constitute a cut-off to prevent the cotton therein from assing to the press box except when the p unger is in its elevated position.

L designates a steam cylinder, which is supported in any suitable manner upon the top of the press frame andworking within which is a piston-L which is connected by a suitable piston rod with the plunger K. The ends of the cylinder are connected b T pipes Z and Z with a valve casing in whic works a throttle valve M, which is designed to admit steam from a boiler to-either the pipe Z or the pipe Z, to effect the raising and lowering of the plunger K. The throttle valve M is provided with an operating lever M, the free end of which is provided with a cranked portion m for a purpose to be hereinafter more particularly set forth. The throttle leverMis normally held by a suitable spring in a position to admit steam from the boiler through the pipe 11 to the lower portion of the cylinder to normally maintain the plunger in its elevated position. Pivotally secured to the under side of the plunger K is an apron N and extending upwardly from the free end of said apron through the plunger is a rod N.

O designates a crank lever which is fulcrumed in suitable bearings secured to the press frame one arm of which overlies the upper end of the rod N extending upwardly from the apron N and upon the other end of which is journaled a roller R over which travels a bar P, one end of which is i-vo'tally secured to one of the rocking arms 'soas to reciprocate therewith and the free end of which is provided with a bifurcated portion p. W hen the plunger is in its elevated position and the tripapi'on is in its lowered posi' 'tion, the roller secured to the crank lever 0 will likewise be in its lowered position and the bar P when reciprocated will clear the throttle lever M. When, however, the trip apron is elevated, the bifurcated portion of the rod P will on the next forward movement of said tle lever M and move said lever to a position to permit the steam in the cylinder to ex haust from below the piston through the pipe t and to admit steam through the pipe Z to the up er portion of the cylinder and thereby e ect the downward movement of the plunger. The throttle lever M is locked in this position by a pivoted latch Q, one end of which lies in the tending finger secure to the late K so that when the plunger reaches t e limit of its downward movement, said finger will con tact with said latch and actuate the same thereby permitting the s ring of the throttle lever to restore said fcver to its normal position and effect the elevation of the plunger.

Havin described the construction of my improve press, I will now set forth the operation thereof. Assuming that the plunger K is in its elevated position, said plunger having contacted with the lever J and through the rod J and spring J "having moved the levers I and I into ahnement to cause the friction wheel H to engage the idler G, it will be ap arent that the rocking bars D and the feeding fingers E will be reciprocated and that cotton will be fed from the cotton chute into the *pressbox. After the press box has been filled, the incoming cotton will engage the trip apron N andelevate the same, which will raise the rod N and conse uently the roller journaled to the crank ever 0, so that during the next reciprocation'of the .bar I, the bifurcated portion.

ath of a laterally exfrom continues until the laterally extending gers secured to the plate K contact with the pivoted latch'Q, raising said latch out of engagement with the throttle lever M and per companying drawing, as it is obvious that many minor changes may be made-thereto without departin from the spirit of the invention as definet in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a device of the character described, a press box, a plunger, means for feeding material to the press box, and means operable directly by said feeding means for effecting the lowering movement of the plunger.

2. In a device of the character described, a press box, a plunger, means for feeding material to the press box, means operable directly by said feeding means for effecting the lowering movement of the plunger, and

means operable by the lowering movement of'the plunger for automatically eflecting the reversal thereof.

3. In a device of the character described,

a press box, a plunger, means for elevating said plunger, means for automatically feeding material to the press box when the plunger is elevated, and means operable directly by said feeding means for effecting the lowering movement of the plunger.

4. In a device of the character described,

a press box, a plunger, a feeding device for feeding material to the press box, means for automatically actuating said feeding device when the plunger is moved to its elevated position, and means operable directly by the feeding device for automatically effecting the lowering movement of the plunger.

5. In a device of the character described, a press box, a plunger, a feeding device for feeding material to the press box, means for automatically actuating said feeding device when the plunger is moved to its elevated cylinder, a piston therein, a connection be-.

tween said piston and plunger, a valve controlling the admission of fluid to the opposite ends of said cylinder, means for normally maintaining said valve in a position to effect the elevation of the plunger, means for intermittently engaging the valve and shifting. the same to effect the lowering movement of the plunger, a catch for holding the valve in its shifted position, and means operable by the lowering movement of the plunger for, releasing said catch.

7. In a device of the character described, a press box, a plunger, :1 fluid pressure cylinder, a piston therein, a connection between said piston and plunger, a valve controlling the admission of fluid to the opposite ends of said cylindenmeans for normally I holding said valve in a position to effect the elevation of the plunger, means for feeding 1 material to the press box, and means operable directly by said feeding means upon the filling of the press box for shifting said valve to effect the lowering movement of the plunger.

8. In a device of the character described, a press box, a plunger, a fluid pressure cylinder, a piston therein, a connection between said piston and plunger, a valve controlling the admission of fluid to the opposite ends of said cylinder, means for normally holding said valve in a position to effect the elevation of the plunger, means for feeding material to the press box, means operable directly by said feeding means upon the filling of the press box for shifting said valve to effect the lowering movement of the plunger, a catch for holding the valve in its shifted position, and means operable by the lowering movement of the plunger, for releasing said catch.

9. In a device of the character described, a press box, a plunger, a reciprocatory feeding device for feeding material to the press box, and means operable directly by said feeding device upon the filling of the press box for effecting the lowering movement of the plunger.

10. In a device of the character described, a press box, a plunger, a fluid pressure cylinder, a piston therein, a connection between said piston and plunger, a valve controlling the admission of fluid to the opposite ends of said cylinder and provided with an operating lever, a reciprocatory feeding device for feeding material to the press box, a member connected to the feeding device and adapted to normally miss the operating lever of the valve, and means operable upon the filling of the press box for shifting said member to engage the operating lever of the valve uponthe next reciprocation of the feeding device.

11. In a device of the character described, a press box, a plunger, a fluid pressure cylinder, a piston therein, a connection between said piston and plunger, a valve controlling the admission of fluid to the opposite ends of said cylinder and provided with an operatin lever, means for normally maintaining sai valve in a position to effect the elevation of a catch for holding said valve in its shifted position, and means operable upon the lowering of the plunger for releasing said catch.

.12. In a device of the character described, a press box, a pllunger, a fluid pressure cylinder, a piston t erein, a connection between said piston and plunger, a valve controlling the admission of fluid to the o posite ends of said cylinder and provided wit an operating lever, a reci rocatory feeding device for feeding materia to the press box, a member connected to the feeding device and adapted to normally miss the operating lever of the.

valve, an apron movably supported above the press box and adapted when elevated to shift said member to engage the operating lever of the valve upon the next reciprocation of the feeding device.

13. In a device of the character described, a press box, a plunger, a fluid pressure cylinder, a piston therein, a connection between said piston and plunger, a valve controlling the admission of fluid to the opposite ends of said cylinder and provided wit an o crating lever, a reci rocatory feeding device or feeding materia to the press box, a member connected to the feeding device and adapted to normally miss the operating lever of the valve, an a ron movably secured to ,the

under side 0 the plunger, and a connection between said apron and the member connected to the feeding device, whereby upon the elevation of the apron said member will be shifted to a position to engage the operating lever of the valve upon the next reciprocation of the feeding device.

14. In a device of the character described, a press box, a chute ada ted to communicate therewith, a pair of roc ing arms supported adjacent the upper end of said chute and extending upwardly on opposite sides thereof, a "shaft mounted to turn loosely in the upper ends of said rocking arms and provlded with a plurality of feeding fingers adapted to normally rest in said chute.

15. In a device of the character described,

a press box, a chute adapted to communicate two subscribing witnesses.

a plurality of f'eding fingers adapted to normally rest in said chute, means for recipsaid shaft against rotation in said arms during-the rearward movement thereof.

16. Ina device of the character described, a press box, a chute ada ted to communicate therewith, a pair of roc ing arms supported adjacent the upper end of said chute and extending upwardly on opposite sides thereof, a shaft mounted to turn loosely in the upper ends of said rocking arms and prov1 ed with a plurality of feeding fingers adapted to normally rest in said chute, means for reci rocating said arms, means for locking said s aft against rotation in said arms during the rearward movement thereof, and means for releasing said shaft.

17. In a device of the character described, a press box, a chute ada ted to communicate therewith, a pair of roc 'ng arms supported adjacent the upper end of said chute and provided with a plurality of feeding fingers adapted to normally rest in said chute, means for reciprocating said arms, a catch for engaging said shaft and holding the same against rotation in said arms during the rearward movement thereof, and means for releasing said catch when the arms reach the limit of their rearward movement.

18. In a device of the character described, a press box, a plunger, a feeding device, a shaft for actuating said feeding device, a friction wheel carried by said shaft, a constantly rotating shaft movably supported adjacent the operating shaft of the feeding mechanism and provided with a friction wheel adapted to engage the friction wheel thereon, a air of pivoted links connecting the movaby supported shaft and a fixed part of the machine, and means 0 erable When'the plunger is moved to its e evated position for straightening said links to cause the friction wheel of the constantly rotating shaft to engage the friction wheel of the shaft for actuating the feeding device.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of p his FREDERICK BERNARD Xk CUMPSTON.

mar lVitnesses:

WM. A. OATHEY,

E. V. HARDWAY.

'60 rocating said arms, and means for holding 

